PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Juniper Networks AP36
Juniper Networks AP36
★ 3.8 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 2x2:2 (2.4 GHz), 4x4:4 (5 GHz), 4x4:4 (6 GHz)
  • Aggregate Throughput: 17.98 Gbps
  • Radios (bands): Tri-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz) + Dedicated tri-band scanning radio
  • Uplink Port Speed: 1 x 1/2.5/5/10GbE
  • Max Clients: 1,536 (512 per data radio)
  • PoE Requirement: 802.3at (Class 4) minimum; 802.3bt (Class 6) recommended

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Industry-leading Wi-Fi 7 performance with 17.98 Gbps aggregate throughput; Mist AI integration for automated operations and troubleshooting; dedicated scanning radio for WIDS/WIPS and RRM.
  • ✘ Cons: Premium price point and requires ongoing cloud subscription for management; full feature set and performance requires 802.3bt (PoE++) power supply.
  • Est. Price: $740 - $1,785

Compare Against

Cisco Catalyst 9178i
Cisco Catalyst 9178i
★ 4.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Switching Capacity: 204.8 Tbps (full chassis)
  • Forwarding Rate: 204.8 Tbps
  • Ports: Up to 288 u00d7 10/25/40/100 Gbps (via modular line cards)
  • Layer: L2/L3
  • Stacking Support: Yes (up to 9 units via Stacking Cables)
  • Chassis Type: 3-slot modular chassis
  • PoE Budget: Up to 5.6 kW per module (optional PoE+ modules)
  • Max Power Consumption: 10.2 kW (full chassis)
  • Backplane Bandwidth: 204.8 Tbps
  • Throughput per Port: Up to 100 Gbps per port
  • Cooling: Redundant, variable-speed fans
  • Uplinks: Multiple 100 Gbps QSFP28 capable

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Industry-leading 204.8 Tbps switching fabric supports next-generation high-density deployments; Modular architecture allows flexible line-card configurations for different port densities and speeds; Full redundancy support (PSU, fan, uplinks) ensures carrier-grade reliability; Native support for Cisco DNA Center and SD-Access intent-based networking; Excellent in-service upgrade capabilities with no traffic disruption
  • ✘ Cons: Significantly higher capital cost compared to fixed-configuration switches; Requires skilled technical staff for modular line-card installation and configuration; Power and cooling infrastructure overhead for large deployments; Complexity of managing modular chassis in smaller networks may be overkill; Limited flexibility in port mix compared to disaggregated options
  • Est. Price: $85,000 - $125,000

Popular Comparisons

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